Golden Apple Comics is a must-visit in Los Angeles for comic book enthusiasts. This now legendary store is located at 7018 Melrose Avenue, one of the city’s most significant commercial streets as it runs through Hollywood. True to its reputation, the store is known as ‘The Comic Shop to the Stars’.
Founded in 1979 by Bill and Sharon Liebowitz, the shop has a rich history as the premier comic book store in Los Angeles. If you’re seeking comic books and pop culture in Los Angeles, Golden Apple Comics is an essential stop. The store boasts an extensive selection of modern and classic comics, back issues, and exclusive variants, as well as a wide array of toys, action figures, statues, collectible cards, and more.
The original owners opened Golden Apple Comics on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles in 1979. The store’s initial inventory consisted of Thom’s comic book collection and art, along with bags from the previous business that had occupied the building, a company named Golden Apple—hence the birth of Golden Apple Comics. Bill was a yo-yo champion in the 1950s and co-founded Rhino Records. After buying out Thom’s share of the business, he opened a second location in Northridge, in the San Fernando Valley, in 1983. Liebowitz was known for hosting comic book artist and writer signings, as well as his activism against censorship. Following Liebowitz’s death in 2004, his widow Sharon and son Ryan took over the business and continue to run the store to this day.
The store has made several appearances on screen, such as in the music video “White & Nerdy” by “Weird Al” Yankovic, and in the movie Free Enterprise (1998), where Sharon Liebowitz played herself. Blair Butler, a comic book expert from G4TV, often presents her segment of Attack of the Show called “Fresh Ink” at Golden Apple. It also featured in an episode of the NBC crime series Raines, where an up-and-coming comic book artist who frequented Golden Apple Comics was murdered.
Golden Apple is also renowned for organizing creator signings and other events. Some of these events are truly massive, with lines wrapping around the entire block.
Among the many celebrated guests who have visited the store are none other than Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Jim Lee, Todd McFarlane, Rob Liefeld, Robert Kirkman, J. Scott Campbell, Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller, Kevin Smith, John Carpenter, Gabriel Luna, David Mack, Bill Sienkiewicz, Marv Wolfman, Public Enemy, Tom Morello, Mike Mignola, Gene Simmons of KISS, Paul Stanley, Lindsey Stirling, Peter David, Mark Waid, Milo Ventimiglia, Rob Perlman, Mark Millar, Marc Silvestri, George Romero, Matt Groening, Dave Stevens, David Harbour, and many more.
